On Thursday, March 31, volunteer Delaney Engle, left, leads Hamlet, who is up for adoption, through the obstacle course during training for the Dog Olympics at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services' main shelter in Jurupa Valley.

Amanda Berry leads Hamlet, Grace Linares leads Tilly and Ian Davis leads Bam Bam through the obstacle course Thursday, March 31, during a training run for the Dog Olympics at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services' main shelter in Jurupa Valley. All three are up for adoption.

Volunteer Afton Lossing leads Huckleberry through a tunnel in the obstacle course during a training run for the Dog Olympics at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services' main shelter in Jurupa Valley.

Bam Bam, led by volunteer Ian Davis, runs an obstacle course during training Thursday, March 31, for the Dog Olympics at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services' main shelter in Jurupa Valley.

Volunteers Grace Linares, left, and Jayden Hillegaart pet Tilly during a break Thursday, March 31, in training for the Dog Olympics at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services' main animal shelter.

Volunteer Jayden Hillegaart leads Parker through the obstacle course during a Thursday, March 31, training run for the Dog Olympics.

That’s the lesson children learned at this week’s spring break camp at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services’ main animal shelter in Jurupa Valley.

The camp, which started Monday, March 28, pairs homeless pets with youngsters who teach the canines – who are up for adoption – how to maneuver through an agility obstacle course that includes a tube tunnel, jumps, a doggie plank and a teeter totter. The camp culminated with a Dog Olympics on Friday, April 1, in which 10 children and 15 dogs competed.

“It’s a great opportunity for children to learn how to train dogs and go for the gold,” said Jaclyn Schart, an interim animal services chief specializing in behavior and adoptions. “Some of what we’re teaching the children they can easily learn to do at home with their own dogs.”

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.